You've Got Two Empty Halves of Coconuts..

...and you're banging them together!

Today was a crappy, cold rainy day.  I had remembered that Doune Castle was where Monty Python filmed most of the castle scenes for "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."  I couldn't quite work out the bus schedule, but I was determined to make my pilgrimage.

I got up early that morning and went to the concierge, Wayne, to inquire about how to get there.  Wayne was nice enough to oblige me and make some calls inquiring about ballpark taxi fares from the train station to the castle, and off I went.  But first, a nice traditional Scottish breakfast at a small place across the street from the Sheraton called the Red Squirrel at the recommendation of Wayne.

Traditional Scottish breakfast: Toast, beans, ham, sausage, fried egg, grilled tomato and yes....HAGGIS.  The haggis wasn't bad.  A bit spicy, but ok.

A nice Scottish taxi driver picked me up at the train station and gave me his card, so that I could call him when I was ready to go back to the train station.

The weather wasn't great, but I would be inside anyway.  I bought my ticket at the small office at the entrance and was sure to ask for my complimentary coconut halves to borrow.

I had the whole castle to myself.  I took my time walking around listening to the audio guide narrated by none other than Pythoner Terry Jones himself.  It inculded lots of historical facts along with interesting and humorous trivia about which scenes were filmed where.

Doune Castle

The courtyard area of the castle is currently being used for the set of "Outlander".  The castle has also been used for1952's "Ivanhoe" featuring Robert Taylor and Elizabeth Taylor.  Most importantly, it was used as Winterfell inthe pilot episode of my favorite tv series "Game of Thrones."

The set ready for filming "Outlander."

Terry Jones and Michael Palin reuniting at Doune Castle in 2001.

Me, standing in the same spot as my idols, Terry Jones and Michael Palin.

Yes, I DO have two empty halves of coconuts and I AM banging them together!

View of the Highlands from up in the castle.

Filming locations:

• At the start of the film, King Arthur and Patsy approach the east wall of Doune Castle and argue with soldiers of the garrison.
• The song and dance routine "Knights of the Roundtable" at "Camelot" was filmed in the Great Hall.
• The servery and kitchen appear as "Castle Anthrax", where Sir Galahad the Chaste is chased by seductive girls. 
• The wedding disrupted by Sir Lancelot was filmed in the courtyard and Great Hall.
• The Swamp Castle scene with the guards.

• The Trojan Rabbit scene was filmed in the entryway and into the courtyard.

"Knights of the Round Table" at Camelot!

Main hall where "Tale of Sir Gallahad," "Knights of the Round Table," and "Swamp Castle scenes were filmed."

The castle steps were narrow, dark and wet.  I traversed my way to the battlements.  Finally some light so I could do what I have waited so many years to do....

And, here is the original...

My taxi guy slowed down over the bridge and gave me a heads up to get this shot of the castle over the river.

My cab driver came back to pick me up and got me to the train station.  The rains caused heavy flooding and I had to wait an extra hour due to train delays.  I finally made it back to my hotel; ready for the second part of my busy day.